House panel seeks to block D.C. marijuana measure

Thursday

Jun 26, 2014 at 12:01 AMJun 26, 2014 at 9:42 AM

The House Appropriations Committee passed a measure yesterday to bar the District of Columbia from using either federal or local funds in carrying out a new law decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana, a move that could block the law if approved by Congress.

The House Appropriations Committee passed a measure yesterday to bar the District of Columbia from using either federal or local funds in carrying out a new law decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana, a move that could block the law if approved by Congress.

The panel voted 28-21 to approve the measure as an amendment to an appropriations bill that finances a number of government agencies as well as the District of Columbia. The next step is a full House vote.

Under the law, scheduled to take effect in mid-July, possession of up to an ounce of marijuana would become a civil infraction punishable with a small fine. The maximum penalty now is six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Medical marijuana is legal in the District of Columbia and would not be affected by the measure passed yesterday.